Baseball and softball will be back, while karate, skateboarding, surfing, and sport climbing will be making their debut.

Thousands of athletes will step foot on the world stage and vie for Olympic gold in their sport. While some are already established, like Simone Biles and Katie Ledecky, others will be attempting to become household names.

As competition increases and the field narrows, here are 13 Olympic hopefuls to watch as the Games approach.

Mariya Lasitskene

Fredrik Sandberg /TT News Agency via REUTERS

Country: Russia

Sport: Track and Field

One thing to know: High jumper Mariya Lasitskene was considered a favorite to win the gold medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics. However, she was barred from competing due to the upheld decision to ban the Russian Track and Field Federation from the Games for systematic doping. She has since competed under a neutral flag.

Lasitskene won the gold medal at the 2015 and 2017 World Championships. Ranked No. 1 in the world in women's high jump, she will finally have her chance at an Olympic medal if she qualifies.

Caeleb Dressel

Xinhua/Wang Jingqiang/Getty Images

Country: United States

Sport: Swimming

One thing to know: Michael Phelps had three records broken in July 2019. Caeleb Dressel broke two of them.

Dressel won a record eight medals at the 2019 World Aquatics Championships to break Phelps' previous record of seven medals in a single meet. He also broke Phelps' world record in the 100-meter butterfly.

While Dressel was a member of Team USA during the 2016 Rio Olympics and took home two gold medals, they were in team relays. In 2020, he'll be looking to secure his first individual Olympic medal.

Michael Andrew

REUTERS/Antonio Bronic

Country: United States

Sport: Swimming

One thing to know: Michael Andrew was 14 years old when he turned professional, making him the youngest swimmer in United States history to do so. Andrew competed in five events at the US Olympic Trials in 2016 but did not qualify.

He has gained a lot of buzz because of his non-traditional style, which involves Ultra Short Race Pace Training. The method has swimmers in a pool for a maximum of two hours per day, training at the pace they will swim in meets.

Takeru Kitazono

One thing to know: Takeru Kitazono is the future of Japanese gymnastics and the successor to gymnastics great Kohei Uchimura.

At the 2018 Youth Olympic Games, he won five gold medals to become the first artistic gymnast ever to achieve the feat in a single Youth Olympic Games. Those five medals came in the all-around, floor, rings, parallel bars, and horizontal bar events.

While Uchimura is expected to compete for a final time in Tokyo, Kitazono is one to watch if he qualifies for Japan's team.

Regan Smith

REUTERS/Evgenia Novozhenina

Country: United States

Sport: Swimming

One thing to know: Regan Smith swam in the 2016 Olympic trials at just 14 years old, but did not qualify for those Games.

Her chances of qualifying for 2020 are much higher. During the 2019 World Aquatics Championships, Smith broke Missy Franklin's 200-meter backstroke world record and went on to win her first World Championship title. She currently holds the world records in 100-meter and 200-meter backstroke, as well as a part of the 4 x 100 Medley Relay.

Morgan Hurd

Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports / REUTERS

Country: United States

Sport: Gymnastics

One thing to know: Simone Biles may be the biggest name in gymnastics, but Morgan Hurd is poised to join her on Team USA. The 18-year-old was named to the women's national team in 2016. She won the 2017 Artistic Gymnastics World Champion all-around title, a five-time World medalist, and took home a gold medal as a member of the 2018 World Champion team.

Sydney McLaughlin

Andy Lyons / Getty Images

Country: United States

Sport: Track & Field

One thing to know: Sydney McLaughlin was 16 years old when she qualified in 400-meter hurdles for the 2016 Rio Olympics, making her the youngest athlete to make the USA Olympic track and field team in 36 years.

Janja Garnbret

Toru Hanai / Getty Images

Country: Slovenia

Sport: Sport climbing

One thing to know: As sport climbing makes its Olympic debut in 2020, so will Janja Garnbret.

Garnbret won the International Federation of Sports Climbing (IFSC) Climbing World Championships in bouldering and combined climbing in 2018 and 2019. She also became the first athlete to win all Bouldering World Cup events in a season in 2019.

When she arrives in Tokyo in summer 2020, the 20-year-old will be the heavy favorite for Olympic gold.

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